France coach Marc Lievremont on Tuesday called up Biarritz flanker Wenceslas Lauret to make his debut against the Springboks in Saturday’s Test at Newlands.
Lievremont said Lauret’s presence would help to contain the intensity which the South African loose forwards brings to the match.
“The Springboks have a great backrow, a very balanced one with capable runners and tacklers,” said Lievremont.
“The Springboks’ play revolves around their back row and Lauret has shown he deserves his place in the national team.”
In much the same vein as South Africa supplied the teams for the 2010 Super 14 final, two French teams Biarritz Toulouse reached the 2010 Heineken Cup final a fortnight ago.
Lievremont believes this will instill great confidence in the ranks of the team ahead of Newlands match.
“Our plan is to play complete rugby, not just kicking up-and-unders,” said Lievremont.
“We will feel less pressure than when last we met and the fact two French teams played in the (Heineken) final means our players will be much more comfortable and confident in what they do.”
The Springboks will be without their king pin scrumhalf Fourie du Preez, but Lievremont said he did not expect the Springboks to suffer any disruption.
“Whoever the Springboks chose to replace him (Fourie) will be just as good. It’s not something the Springboks will be concerned about,” said Lievremont.
Team:
France: 15 Clement Poitrenaud, 14 Vincent Clerc, 13 David Marty, 12 Maxime Mermoz, 11 Aurelien Rougerie, 10 Francois Trinh-Duc, 9 Morgan Parra, 8 Julien Bonnaire, 7 Wenceslas Lauret, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (captain), 5 Romain Millo- Chluski, 4 Lionel Nallet, 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 Dimitri Szarzewski, 1 Thomas Domingo.
Replacements: 16 Guilhem Guirado, 17 Jean Baptiste Poux, 18 Julien Pierre, 19 Louis Picamoles, 20 Dimitri Yachvili, 21 David Skrela, 22 Marc Andreu, 23 Luc Ducalcon
Date: Saturday, June 12
Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
Kick-off: 14.00 (12.00 GMT)
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Keith Brown (New Zealand), David Changleng (Scotland)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
And here is the Bok team
Springboks vs France – Newlands, Cape Town, Saturday 12 June, 2010
15 Zane Kirchner (Vodacom Bulls) – 5 caps
14 Gio Aplon (Vodacom Stormers) – 1 cap
13 Jaque Fourie (Vodacom Stormers) – 55 caps
12 Wynand Olivier (Vodacom Bulls) – 27 caps
11 Bryan Habana (Vodacom Stormers) – 57 caps
10 Morné Steyn (Vodacom Bulls) – 12 caps
9 Ricky Januarie (Vodacom Stormers) – 41 caps
8 Pierre Spies (Vodacom Bulls) – 28 caps
7 Francois Louw (Vodacom Stormers) – 1 cap
6 Schalk Burger (Vodacom Stormers) – 55 caps
5 Victor Matfield (Vodacom Bulls) – 93 caps
4 Danie Rossouw (Vodacom Bulls) – 47 caps
3 BJ Botha (Ulster) – 20 caps
2 John Smit (The Sharks, Capt) – 94 caps
1 Gurthrö Steenkamp (Vodacom Bulls) – 22 caps
Replacements:
16 Chiliboy Ralepelle (Vodacom Bulls) – 9 caps
17 Jannie du Plessis (Sharks) – 13 caps
18 Flip van der Merwe (Vodacom Bulls) – uncapped
19 Dewald Potgieter (Vodacom Bulls) – 2 caps
20 Ruan Pienaar (Sharks) – 37 caps
21 Juan de Jongh (Vodacom Stormers) – 1 cap
22 Jean de Villiers (Vodacom Western Province) – 55 caps
OK, I think we will get more understanding from the ref….NH and SH, still have their differences when it comes to refereeing.I havent looked at the Bok team yet, but this is a good side and will not be a walkover. Anyway, I just think the teams are getting closer and closer in terms of competitiveness, as all the players are hugely fit and all essentially do the same training around the world. There is definitely too much rugby being played though, it is becoming ridiculous and its now down to the teams with the most vasbyt and better mental preparation. That is why I think Australia is the huge threat for the upcoming world cup, their mental preparation will be streets ahead of the rest of the world. England will be thinking about the excuses they will ahve to make for losing….just like their football team, which will be lucky to get into the semi’s despite having the best players in the world….as I have said before, the kids all are trained at schools in England “its about taking part and not about winning”. If our rugby schools ever adopt that philosophy, we are in trouble. SA is still a winning nation….and if we can transmit that ethos to ALL the youngsters in SA we will overcome the political and economic problems we have too. Boks will win this by one try (eg 3 to 2), unless France’s kicking game falls apart (entirely possible) then it will be by more.
Ah, I see u have posted the team now Blouste, I dont like Kirchner there, for me he has not made the step up to the Boks well, despite being a fantastic S14 player, perhaps he is a head case. Ralepele…ag nee man….it just makes me naar when I see that cr*p, he shouldnt be near a Bok jersey….otherwise, nothing wrong. I think Ruan will come on soon.
@ 4man:
I think Zane deserves a chance, Chilli…ja wel.
Ruan should’ve started imo…
@Blouste
I tell you what, when Kitchner came on, on Saturday, I went cold and his first action was to miss the Gary Owen and Wales scored. Wales had two tries which we gifted them and for a team that prides itself on defense, its not good enough….Fullback, well I see the Stormers dude is gone and he should have had a chance this year (Joe Peterson), otherwise a wiser head would not go far wrong, someone like Terblanche, but clearly Snor has his favourites….I will watch Zane with interest, lets hope he redeems himself, as he is nice and young and could solve the problem for years to come.
In my humble opinion:
1]Steenkamp? I will NEVER forget him being manshammed on the EOYT.
2]Louw? He was not up to scratch on last Saturday. Is Deysel injured [again?]
3]Januarie ROTFLMFHO!
4]Aplon, the heart of a lion [no not Dick Muir’s lions], but just too small
5]Kirchner, the up and under king.
6]Chilliboy. Is he politically connected?
I would rather play:
CJ
Vermeulen
Pienaar
Bason
Danniler
Botha / the Cheetah who now plays for WP.
@ 4man:
Look he made a bad mistake, but was only on the field for 4 or so minutes, wich imo is a waste in any case…
Lets give him a full game and then judge him on that.
@ Loosehead:
You’ve got a “humble” opinion ? 😯
😆
@Blouste…Ja, thats essentially what I’ve said.
ha….I see I’ve made the “hit parade”
@ 4man:
Congrats !!! 😉
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